Aljamain Sterling admits he panicked after hurting his elbow in UFC Shanghai win over Brian Ortega but stayed composed to secure the victory.

Aljamain Sterling walked off with a hard-fought five-round decision win over fellow UFC featherweight Brian Ortega yesterday morning (Sat., Aug. 23, 2025) at UFC Shanghai, but “Funk Master” didn’t step away unscathed.

Last night at UFC Shanghai, Aljamain Sterling clashed with Brian Ortega in the highly anticipated co-main event. Sterling showcased superior skills, ultimately securing a dominant, unanimous decision victory to rebound from his prior defeat against Movsar Evloev.